Circular

Circular Cir"cu*lar, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round. [1913 Webster]

2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning. [1913 Webster]

3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior. See {Cyclic poets}, under {Cyclic}. [1913 Webster]

Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido? --Dennis. [1913 Webster]

4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation; as, a circular letter. [1913 Webster]

A proclamation of Henry III., . . . doubtless circular throughout England. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]

5. Perfect; complete. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

A man so absolute and circular In all those wished-for rarities that may take A virgin captive. --Massinger. [1913 Webster]

{Circular are}, any portion of the circumference of a circle.

{Circular cubics} (Math.), curves of the third order which are imagined to pass through the two circular points at infinity.

{Circular functions}. (Math.) See under {Function}.

{Circular instruments}, mathematical instruments employed for measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round the whole circumference of a circle, or 360[deg].

{Circular lines}, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as sines, tangents, secants, etc.

{Circular note}{ or Circular letter}. (a) (Com.) See under {Credit}. (b) (Diplomacy) A letter addressed in identical terms to a number of persons.

{Circular numbers} (Arith.), those whose powers terminate in the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose squares are 25 and 36. --Bailey. --Barlow.

{Circular points at infinity} (Geom.), two imaginary points at infinite distance through which every circle in the plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass.

{Circular polarization}. (Min.) See under {Polarization}.

{Circular sailing} or {Globular sailing} (Naut.), the method of sailing by the arc of a great circle.

{Circular saw}. See under {Saw}. [1913 Webster]